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January 13, 2012

Growing Up Amish

This was such an interesting memoir of a man raised in the Amish
ways, who struggles to find rest. Ira Wagler tells an engaging story of
his childhood and youth, being raised within the strict rules of the
Amish community.

I learnt alot about the beliefs of the
Amish, their strict rules and how they live. I realized the Amish, when
it comes to human nature, aren't really that different then any of us.
They love their families, work very hard to provide, and strive to teach
their children moral values. But they also gossip, struggle with
jealousy and judge each other, just like us. The difference is they
believe belonging to the Amish church saves them and that they are lost
without it. That is why so many leave and come back, leave and come
back. They are afraid of losing their salvation. He says here:

"We were special--the chosen ones who preserved and honored "the only way."

"With some prodding, there might be a reluctant admission that yes, others not of our particular faith might make it to heaven, but only because they were not born Amish and didn't know any better. Those who were
born in the faith had better stay, or they would surely face a terrible
Judgment Day. That's what we heard. What we were told by our parents
and what we heard in the sermons at church."

He goes on to say:

"But they never explained why. Why we were special. Why we alone knew the only true path. Only that we were and we did."

The
author goes on to share the struggles and torment he went through, in
leaving and coming back several times. Until he finally decided to talk
to God.

He say here:

"Although I'd
been taught all my life to pray, I never did much, because I never saw
that it did any good. Not for those around me, at least. Every day the
Amish launched some of the most beautifully written prayers out there.
It was a formal thing, praying. Approach God, read some poetic lines
from a little black book, and then get up and go about your day, secure
in the knowledge that you had done your duty, that you would be
protected. In church, of course, every single syllable in every prayer
was scripted, read from a book or memorized, word for word. That's all I
knew about praying. All I had ever seen.

Normally, I wouldn't have considered praying, not for a second. It would
never have crossed my mind. Even if it had, I would have shrugged it
off. But this was not a normal time.

I decided
that I could simply talk to God. ask for his help. Not by reading from a
little black book, but by talking to him, man to man. Or man to God.
Whatever."

In God's time He answered that simple
prayer with the most unlikely of people. Ira eventually found the true
Source of salvation, not in an organized church, not in good works, not
in obeying laws, but in a gift of God, in his Savior Jesus Christ alone.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

I
love how God comes to us right where we are and when we cry out to Him
he hears our every prayer. He wants us to come to him and rest in him,
because he loves and cares for us.

Sounds like an interesting book, thanks for the review! New follower from bloggy moms, look forward to your future posts! You can find me athttp://wvfrugal-wvsaver.blogspot.com/Stop by when you get the chance :)

Welcome to my blog!
A blog of thoughts on books I've read with a few extra thoughts thrown in. : )
I'm a wife and mom of three. I love reading and learning, gardening and listening to good music and I love spending time with my family.
My hope is that this blog brings honor to the Lord and some encouragement for you.